Missouri Executive Officials

The Missouri Legislature

The Missouri Judicial System

Governor

In Missouri, the governor is the highest elected official in the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch of government is in charge of enforcing laws made by the Legislative Branch. Some of the governor's powers include choosing directors of state agencies, selecting citizens for boards and official groups, and filling empty positions in county offices. The governor also appoints judges. The governor acts as the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor also has the power to pardon individuals who have committed crimes, call special sessions for the legislature, and activate the National Guard for state emergencies.

Each January the governor delivers a speech called the "State of the State" to the Missouri Legislature and submits a state budget. After the legislature passes a bill, the governor has the power to sign the bill into law or prevent it from becoming a law by vetoing it. When the governor vetoes a bill, the legislature can pass it anyway if 2/3 of both houses vote for it.

The Missouri Constitution says the governor must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for 15 years, and a resident of Missouri for 10 years. The governor may only serve two four-year terms.

Lieutenant Governor

The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the Missouri Senate and can vote to break a tie. The lieutenant governor also serves on many boards and official groups.

In case the governor cannot carry out his duties of office because of death, resignation, disability, or absence, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor. The lieutenant governor is much like the vice-president of the United States. The qualifications for lieutenant governor and governor are the same.

Secretary of State

The secretary of state is responsible for many different things in Missouri, all related to providing and preserving information for the public. The secretary of state is in charge of elections, taking care of historic records, overseeing the State Library, the securities industry, and serves as the filing agency for business records.

The secretary of state is the guardian of the Great Seal of the State of Missouri and validates official documents of the governor. The office also publishes the Official Manual of the State of Missouri, also known as the "Blue Book."

Before being elected, the secretary of state must be a Missouri resident for at least one year.

Auditor

The state auditor is responsible for inspecting the finances of all state agencies, boards and official groups, as well as some counties in Missouri. Citizens may ask the auditor to examine a local government. The state auditor performs these audits to make sure Missouri government uses its citizens’ tax dollars responsibly.

The qualifications for state auditor and the governor are the same.

Treasurer

The state treasurer is the guardian of the state's money. The treasurer manages and invests the state's money. The treasurer also handles the Unclaimed Property Program, which attempts to return forgotten funds deposited in banks to their owners.

The treasurer has the same requirements as the secretary of state but is limited to serving two terms

Attorney General

The attorney general serves as the lawyer for the state, representing the interests of Missouri government agencies and its citizens. The attorney general also gives legal advise to statewide officers such as the governor and secretary of state, as well as the legislature and other state and local government agencies.

The attorney general must be an attorney and live in Jefferson City while in office.

General Assembly

The Missouri legislature, known as the General Assembly, is composed of two "houses." The upper house is called the Senate, and the lower and larger of the two is called the House of Representatives. The legislature is in session from January to May each year.

Each house decides its own rules and procedures and is required to keep a daily record of its work.

Senate

The Missouri Senate has 34 members. Each senator represents about 155,000 people. Senate terms are four years, with one-half of the Senate up for election every two years. Senate candidates must be at least 30 years of age, a qualified Missouri voter for three years, and a resident of their district for at least one year.

When the lieutenant governor is not presiding over the Senate, the president pro tempore, elected by the members of the Senate, presides over the Senate most of the time and is the Senate's main official.

The Senate also approves most of the appointments made by the governor to head state agencies and to serve on state boards and commissions.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has 163 members, who each represent about 31,000 people. House terms are for two years. House candidates must be at least 24 years of age, a qualified voter of the state for two years, and a resident of their district for at least one year.

The Missouri Judicial System

The judicial branch of Missouri government has three levels: circuit, appeals and supreme. All judges must be licensed to practice law in Missouri and are required to retire at age 70.

At the trial level are the circuit and associate circuit courts. Missouri has 45 judicial circuits, divided along county lines. Circuit courts handle civil and criminal trials. Every circuit contains at least one circuit judge and at least one associate circuit judge for each county within the circuit. Associate circuit judges must be at least 25 years of age, a qualified voter of Missouri, and a resident of the county. Circuit judges must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States at least 10 years, a qualified voter of Missouri at least three years, and a resident of the circuit at least one year. Circuit judges have six-year terms while associate circuit judges have four-year terms.

The next level is the appellate court. There are three appeals court districts in Missouri, located in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. The courts of appeals hear cases from lower courts whose decisions have been appealed and are not reserved exclusively for the Missouri Supreme Court. Appeals court judges must be at least 30 years old, residents of their district, U.S. citizens for at least 15 years, and Missouri voters for nine years before their selection. Appellate judges are appointed initially and then retained by a favorable vote of the people every 12 years.

The Missouri Supreme Court, the state's highest court, hears cases appealed from the courts of appeals or those involving the death penalty, a U.S. treaty or statute, the Missouri Constitution, the state's revenue laws, and the title to any state office. The Supreme Court also supervises all lower courts in the state.There are seven judges on the Supreme Court, which have the same qualifications and terms as appeals court judges. The chief justice position is rotated between members every two years.